Rumors have ramped up surrounding Dwight Howard since the start of the NBA's free-agency period on Monday.

Whether it's a fellow superstar having a sit-down with the 27-year-old center or an up-and-coming Pacific Division team doing everything in its power to land him, there have reportedly been a lot of developments that have taken place this week.

You have to learn how it's done. I know how to do it, and I've learned from the best—players who have won multiple times over and over.

Instead of trying to do things your way, just listen and learn and tweak it, so it fits you.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Make no mistake about it, these words are important pieces to the puzzle. Bryant is basically challenging Howard, refusing to accommodate the seven-time All-Star. Howard could take it one of two ways: a) accept the challenge and try again to win a title with Kobe and the Lakers or b) take his ego elsewhere.

My initial thoughts are that Bryant didn't do the Lakers (or himself) any favors. Bryant has never been one to back down to anybody, but you can't just go out and tell a multiple-time All-Star, "You need to learn how to do it first." Bryant may have a point, but that doesn't change the fact that it's unlikely to warm Howard's heart.

Of course, there's another team that is pursuing Howard aggressively. That team would be the Golden State Warriors.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

After Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported on Thursday that the Warriors were trying to unload the expiring contracts of Andrew Bogut, Richard Jefferson and Andris Biedrins to clear up cap space for Howard—while dangling a future first-round pick—Peter Vecsey tweeted this:

Which team will Dwight Howard join this summer?

RocketsLakersMavericksWarriorsHawksOtherSubmit Votevote to see results

Which team will Dwight Howard join this summer?

Rockets

31.3%

Lakers

53.8%

Mavericks

2.0%

Warriors

10.5%

Hawks

0.6%

Other

1.8%

Total votes: 1,377

In my opinion, it doesn't seem likely that a team would take on those massive contracts for just a first-round pick. The ESPN.com report suggested that either Klay Thompson or Harrison Barnes may have to be included in such a deal. But, wow, are the Warriors doing everything in their power to land Howard or what?

As for now, the teams that appear to be most likely to land Howard this summer are (in order): the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks. Of course, I wouldn't call the Warriors out of this, not by a long shot. The Lakers, on the other hand, appear to be falling out of the picture.